New York: The disinformation strategies of the ousted Assad regime and Israel aim to silence victims and strengthen their own narratives, according to a political scientist. Speaking to Anadolu, Sophie Fullerton, a professor of politics at Fordham University in the US, analyzed disinformation strategies in Syria and the Gaza Strip.
According to Anadolu Agency, Fullerton noted the distinction between misinformation and disinformation, emphasizing that disinformation is a deliberate and intentional form of manipulation. In relation to Syria, Fullerton said: "Basically what this disinformation campaign was serving was to silence victims on the ground, be it chemical weapons attacks, barrel bombings, or torture victims, and try to elevate the Assad regime's narrative."
"This widespread disinformation campaign by the Russians was to really bring in specific types of foreign policy that helps aid the Assad regime and their Russian counterparts and allies." Fullerton added that the disinformation campaign does not necessarily need to be believable to individuals but aims to muddy the narrative or confuse people who may not understand the situation in Syria, thus serving the Kremlin's interests.
Fullerton mentioned that the West criticized disinformation related to Syria, but when it comes to Gaza, Western leaders and journalists often enable this type of disinformation. She noted that disinformation has influenced the refugee crisis by maligning refugees to prevent them from receiving asylum or assistance in Europe.
Fullerton touched on disinformation campaigns carried out on social media during the ousted Assad regime. She stated that these campaigns had two primary objectives: to enable the Assad regime to promote itself on an international stage and to control its own narrative. Influencers entering Syria would be guided by Syrian minders to present a narrative controlled by the Assad regime.
Meanwhile, the Israeli government conducts specific disinformation campaigns targeting Western politicians, particularly in the US. These campaigns aim to silence Palestinian voices and uplift the Israeli state narrative. Fullerton referred to manipulative claims from Oct. 2023 about the Palestinian resistance group Hamas, highlighting the need for immediate fact-checking.
She noted that disinformation in Gaza is designed to portray Israel as 'the perpetual victim,' justifying actions against Palestinians. Fullerton emphasized that pointing out Israel's violations often leads to accusations of antisemitism, but individuals should be able to call out war crimes without being maligned.
Fullerton underscored the need for enhanced media literacy to counter disinformation. She highlighted the rise of citizen journalism, especially in Gaza, where everyday Gazans document Israeli actions. However, state actors attempt to mitigate this type of reporting. Fullerton advocates for media literacy to help people discern propaganda and understand how states use media to promote specific narratives.